The West in crisis

France teeters on the edge of a anti-Eurpopean revolt, the United States seems locked in a internal war, and England has decided to leave the European Union, which it was never completely a part of. Spain, Italy, and Greece, the foundation of the Western mind, are trapped in financial suspended animation. Germany’s premiere auto maker admits to designing vehicles to cheat on emissions tests.

Social issues, such as financial in-equality, health care, and retirement benefits are becoming very important in the U.S., eroding the dominance capitalism has had for the last 150 years. Church attendance is at all-time lows, yet many people are interested in spiritual growth. Evidence indicates that Russia meddled with the American election, throwing the result into question.

The acceptance of capitalism and materialism in areas outside the West is very troubling, because they are not working very well in the West. Greed for ever increasing profit, disregard for environmental issues, and lack of sustainability are becoming trademarks of the Western world. The West consumes the majority of the world’s resources, yet represents only a fraction of the world’s population. That is unlikely to continue, especially as countries like China adopt automobiles in place of bicycles. We all are going to be riding bicycles soon, I think, and we will consider ourselves lucky to have them.